Image display control device for restricting display of video data viewed on a television in accordance with a restrict level of the video data

Abstract

For the display of certain video scenes, in a case when first restrict data has a stricter restrict level than second restrict data, an on-screen circuit (5) operating in accordance with the output of a comparator (3) alters the display on the TV screen (6) to a single predetermined color, cutting out the video scene. Alternatively, in the case when first restrict data has a more lenient restrict level than second restrict data, the on-screen circuit (5) operating in accordance with the output of a comparator (3) displays the video scene unaltered. Furthermore, the extent of the difference between restrict levels of first and second restrict data can be checked on the TV screen (6) by means of data set in attribute register (9), making it possible to prevent overly deviant restrict level settings.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image display control device for preventing viewing of video scenes included among video signals capable of being viewed on a television regarded as educationally inappropriate, comprising: an extractor for extracting from a video signal first restrict data which has been multiplexed onto the video signal in a predetermined vertical retrace period thereof, said first restrict data representing any one of a plurality of display restrict levels ranging from a strict display restrict level for preventing viewing of video scenes regarded as educationally inappropriate to a lenient display restrict level;   a register in which is set second restrict data representing any one of the plurality of display restrict levels;   a display controller for comparing display restrict levels of the first restrict data and the second restrict data, prohibiting display of the video data on a television display when a display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than a display restrict level of the second restrict data, and permitting display of the video data on a television display when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is more lenient than the display restrict level of the second restrict data; and   a restrict level display controller for controlling the display controller to display on the television display the difference between the display restrict level of the first restrict data and the display restrict level of the second restrict data, based on a comparison between the first and second restrict data performed by the comparator.   
     
     
       2. An image display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display controller further comprises: a comparator for comparing the first restrict data with the second restrict data; and an on-screen circuit for displaying a predetermined display color on the display-screen when an output of the comparator has indicated that the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data.   
     
     
       3. An image display control device according to claim 2, wherein the display controller further comprises: a muting circuit for muting an audio output of the television when an output of the comparator has indicated that the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data.   
     
     
       4. An image display control device according to claim 1, wherein the restrict level display controller comprises: a register, in which data representing a first color is set when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data, and in which data representing a second color differing from the first color is set when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is more lenient than the display restrict level of the second restrict data; and wherein   based on contents of the register, the on-screen display displays a relative relation between the display restrict level of the first restrict data and the display restrict level of the second restrict data using colors on the display-screen.   
     
     
       5. An image display control device according to claim 1, wherein the restrict level display controller controls the on-screen circuit to display a predetermined display on the display-screen when the display restrict level of the first restrict data does not match the display restrict level of the second restrict data.   
     
     
       6. An image display control device according to claim 1, wherein the restrict level display controller controls the on-screen circuit to flash a predetermined text on the display-screen when the display restrict level of the first restrict data does not match the display restrict level of the second restrict data.   
     
     
       7. An image display control device for obtaining video data capable of being viewed on a television from a video signal and displaying said video data on a display-screen of the television, wherein, in accordance with moral contents of the video signal, the video signal is ranked at any one of a plurality of display restrict levels ranging from a strict display restrict level to a lenient display restrict level, and first restrict data for restricting display on the display-screen is multiplexed onto the video signal in accordance with a display restrict level at which the video signal has been ranked;   said image display control device further comprising: an extracting circuit for extracting the first restrict data which has been multiplexed onto the video signal;   a second restrict data storing circuit for storing second restrict data which corresponds to a display restrict level desired by a viewer;   a display controller for comparing display restrict levels of the first restrict data and the second restrict data, and prohibiting display of the video data on a television display when a display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than a display restrict level of the second restrict data, and permitting display of the video data on a television display when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is more lenient than the display restrict level of the second restrict data; and   a restrict level display controller for controlling the display controller to display on the display-screen the difference between the display restrict level of the first restrict data and the display restrict level of the second restrict data, based on a comparison between the first and second restrict data performed by the comparator.     
     
     
       8. An image display control device according to claim 7, wherein the first restrict data multiplexed onto the video signal in accordance with moral contents of the video signal comprises restrict data for preventing viewing of video scenes deemed to be educationally inappropriate.   
     
     
       9. An image display control device according to claim 7, wherein the display controller comprises: a comparator for comparing the first restrict data and the second restrict data; and   a display color controller for altering a color displayed on the display-screen to a predetermined color when the comparator indicates that the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data.   
     
     
       10. An image display control device according to claim 8, wherein the display controller comprises: a comparator for comparing the first restrict data and the second restrict data; and   a display color controller for altering a color displayed on the display-screen to a predetermined color when the comparator indicates that the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data.   
     
     
       11. An image display control device according to claim 9, wherein the display controller further comprises: a muting circuit for muting an audio output multiplexed onto the video signal based on an output of the comparator which indicates that a display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than a display restrict level of the second restrict data.   
     
     
       12. An image display control device according to claim 7, wherein the restrict level display controller comprises: a register, in which data representing a first color is set when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data, and in which data representing a second color differing from the first color is set when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is more lenient than the display restrict level of the second restrict data; and wherein,   based on contents of the register, the on-screen display displays a relative relation between the display restrict level of the first restrict data and the display restrict level of the second restrict data using colors on the display-screen.   
     
     
       13. An image display control device for obtaining video data capable of being viewed on a television from a video signal and displaying said video data on a display-screen of the television, wherein in accordance with moral contents of the video signal, the video signal is ranked at any one of a plurality of display restrict levels ranging from a strict display restrict level to a lenient display restrict level, and first restrict data for restricting display on the display-screen is multiplexed onto the video signal in accordance with a display restrict level at which the video signal has been ranked; said image display control device further comprising:   an extracting circuit for extracting the first restrict data which has been multiplexed onto the video signal;   a second restrict data storing circuit for storing second restrict data which corresponds to a display restrict level desired by a viewer; a display controller for comparing display restrict levels of the first restrict data and the second restrict data, and prohibiting display of the video data on a television display when a display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than a display restrict level of the second restrict data, and permitting display of the video data on a television display when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is more lenient than the display restrict level of the second restrict data; and       a restrict level display controller for controlling the display controller to display a predetermined display on the display-screen when the display restrict level of the first restrict data does not match the display restrict level of the second restrict data, the predetermined display being based on a degree of the mismatch.   
     
     
       14. An image display control device according to claim 7, further comprising: a prohibit circuit, wherein, having switched from a first state of viewing video data corresponding to a video signal onto which has been multiplexed the first restrict data having a display restrict level more lenient than the display restrict level of the second restrict data to a second state of viewing video data corresponding to a different video signal onto which has been multiplexed the first restrict data having a stricter display restrict level than the second restrict data,   during the period from the moment of switching from the first state to the second state until, after extracting the first restrict data multiplexed onto a video signal obtained in the second state from the video signal, the on-screen circuit is controlled by an output of the first comparator, and   said prohibit circuit prohibits the video data in the second state from being displayed on the display-screen.     
     
     
       15. An image display control device according to claim 14, wherein the display controller compares the first restrict data and the second restrict data in the first state and the second state, and when a result of the comparison indicates that the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data, the display controller alters a color to be displayed on the display-screen to a predetermined color.   
     
     
       16. An image display control device for obtaining video data capable of being viewed on a television from a video signal and displaying said video data on a display-screen of the television, wherein, in accordance with moral contents of the video signal, the video signal is ranked at any one of a plurality of display restrict levels ranging from a strict display restrict level to a lenient display restrict level, and first restrict data for restricting display on the display-screen is multiplexed onto the video signal in accordance with a display restrict level at which the video signal has been ranked;   said image display control device further comprising: an extracting circuit for extracting the first restrict data which has been multiplexed onto the video signal;   a second restrict data storing circuit for storing second restrict data which corresponds to a display restrict level desired by a viewer;   a display controller for comparing display restrict levels of the first restrict data and the second restrict data, and prohibiting display of the video data on a television display when a display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than a display restrict level of the second restrict data, and permitting display of the video data on a television display when the display restrict level of the first restrict data is more lenient than the display restrict level of the second restrict data; and   a present channel register into which is set data relating to a channel of video data presently being viewed on the display-screen;   a preserve register for preserving contents of the present channel register when an output of the first comparator which indicates that the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data;   a channel comparator for comparing contents of the present channel register with contents of the preserve register and, when both said contents match, controlling the on-screen circuit to prohibit viewing of the corresponding video data, irrespective of the output of the first comparator; and wherein,   having switched from a first state of viewing video data corresponding to a video signal onto which has been multiplexed the first restrict data having a display restrict level stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data to a second state of viewing video data corresponding to a different video signal onto which has been multiplexed the first restrict data having a more lenient display restrict level than the second restrict data, and having thereafter switched once again to the first state,   during the period from the moment of switching from the second state to the first state until, after extracting the first restrict data multiplexed onto a video signal obtained in the second state from the video signal, the on-screen circuit is controlled by an output of the first comparator, the video data is prohibited from being displayed on the display-screen of the television in compliance with an output of the channel comparator.     
     
     
       17. An image display control device according to claim 16, wherein the display controller compares the first restrict data and the second restrict data in the first state and the second state, and when a result of the comparison indicates that the display restrict level of the first restrict data is stricter than the display restrict level of the second restrict data, the display controller alters a color to be displayed on the display-screen to a predetermined color.   
     
     
       18. An image display control device according to claim 7, wherein the first restrict data is multiplexed during a predetermined vertical retrace period of the video signal.   
     
     
       19. An image display control device according to claim 7, further comprising: a switch time display controller, wherein, having switched from a first state of displaying video data corresponding to a video signal to a second state of displaying video data corresponding to a different video signal, the switch time display controller prohibits the video data in the second state from being displayed on the display-screen during the period from the moment of switching from the first state to the second state until the first restrict data multiplexed onto the video signal obtained in the second state is extracted from the video signal.     
     
     
       20. An image display control device according to claim 7, further comprising: a switch time display controller, wherein, having switched from a first state of displaying video data corresponding to a video signal to a second state of displaying video data corresponding to a different video signal, the switch time display controller prohibits the video data in the second state from being displayed on the display-screen for a predetermined period of time from the moment of switching from the first state to the second state.